Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo

Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo Biography

Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo is a Congolese politician who has been the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 24 January 2019. He is the leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, the oldest and largest opposition party of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tshisekedi was the UDPS party’s candidate for president in the December 2018 general election, which he won. Despite accusations that surround him on the irregularities from European Nations and the CCEMO (Catholic Church Election Monitoring Organizations).

2. Félix Antoine elections Irregularities Challenge

For instance, Félix Antoine Tshilombo’s victory was upheld by the Constitutional Court of the DRC. Especially after another opposition politician, Martin Fayulu, challenged the 2019 elections result.

Recently, he has named his coalition partner and political heavyweight, Vital Kamerhe, as his chief of staff.

3. Félix Antoine Tshilombo Background & Education

Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi was born in Léopoldville on 13 June 1963 to mother Marthe and father Étienne Tshisekedi. In addition to who served as Prime Minister of Zaire in the 1990s. Furthermore, Antoine’s father is of Luba ethnicity.

Félix had a comfortable life as a youth in the capital city of the DRC. However, when his father created the UDPS in the early 1980s, publicly opposing Mobutu, Félix was forced to accompany his dissident father. Especially into house arrest in his native village in central Kasaï which led to him ending his studies.

4. Fathers Son Political Ambitions

A 55-year-old father of five, Mr. Tshisekedi, was for a long time known for being the son of the late veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi. But he insisted that he was not trying to rival his father. But Mr. Tshisekedi did not simply cash in on his name.

He Félix Antoine has been immersed in politics from a very young age and had to work his way through the party. He also had to suffer the consequences of his father’s political activism.

5. Leaving Kasaï for Brussels, Belgium

When the UDPS was created, the Tshisekedi family was forced into internal exile to their home town in the central Kasai province. In 1985, Mobutu authorized him, his mother, and his brothers to leave Kasaï.

Whereas he went on to live in Brussels, Belgium. Where he worked at odd jobs and became an active UDPS militant. They stayed there until 1985 when President Mobutu allowed the mother and children to leave.

6. Union for Democracy and Social Progress

Félix Tshisekedi’s father founded the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (known by its French initials UDPS) in 1982, and was a feared rival of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who died months after being ousted in 1997, and later of Presidents Laurent and Joseph Kabila.

Under his leadership, the UDPS became the country’s largest opposition party, but he never succeeded in winning office.

Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo Political Challenges

His legal challenge to the official results of the 2011 presidential election, which showed he won 32% of the vote to Joseph Kabila’s 49%, failed. The veteran opposition leader died in 2017 leaving a big question over who would succeed him.

The electoral commission said Mr. Tshisekedi had received 38.5% of the vote on 30 December, compared to 34.7% for Martin Fayulu, another opposition figure. Ruling coalition candidate Emmanuel Shadary took 23.8%.

But doubts were raised about the results include by the country’s influential Catholic Church, international experts based in the US, and the French and German governments.

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Mr. Fayulu accused Mr. Tshisekedi of coming to a power-sharing arrangement with the outgoing president. Although he denied the accusations.

Divided Political Lineage Opinions

Etienne’s’ former chief of staff Albert Moleka shared through the BBC that; Félix Tshisekedi was not necessarily the obvious choice. “Etienne Tshisekedi was very vocal about his skepticism towards his son’s abilities. He was very demanding of his son.

Etienne always fought for the people and wasn’t in a position of offering a free pass to his son. Mr. Moleka added that his mother though, Marthe Kasalu, facilitated a push for the son to become the leader.

Strong Allies from within and outside the borders

His strength fluctuated as soon as Félix Tshisekedi went to the Belgian capital, Brussels. After completing his studies there he took up politics, working his way through his father’s party. Particularly to become the National Secretary for external affairs for the UDPS, based in Brussels.

He made powerful friends and allies in the diaspora even though lightly taken. And so it wasn’t easy for him to win election alongside his run-mates.

Frontend Peaceful Power Transition

His swearing-in saw the first peaceful transition of power in DR Congo since their independence in 1960. Equally important, Félix has always shown a lot of willingness.

So to say, he is so courageous and focused at his ultimate political mandates. Even though he has a long path to walk in figuring out what his long-term goals are.

Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Political Breakdown

Tshisekedi told the crowds at his inauguration that he wanted to “build a strong Congo, turned towards development in peace and security. A Congo for all in which everyone has a place”. Mr. Tshisekedi also said he will make the fight against poverty a “great national cause“.

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He aims, for example, to increase the average per person income to $11.75 (£9.30) a day, compared to $1.25 today.

A. 2008 – UDPS Secretarial

In 2008, Félix Antoine Tshilombo became the UDPS National Secretary on external relations matters. Whereas in November 2011, he obtained a seat in the National Assembly, representing the city of Mbuji Mayi. To enumerate, Mbuji Mayi City is located in the ambient Province of Kasai-Oriental. Even though he did not take his seat by citing a fraudulent election process.

C. 2016- UDPS Vice Secretary General

In October 2016, Tshisekedi became vice secretary general of the UDPS.On 31 March 2018, he was elected to lead the UDPS, after his father’s death on 1 February 2017. The very same day, he was chosen by his party to be the UDPS presidential candidate in the general election that took place on 30 December 2018.

In addition, he received massive support from the term-limited outgoing president Joseph Kabila. Joseph Kabila has been the president for eighteen years. Fayulu, the runner-up, alleged rigging and challenged the election results.

E. 19th January – Official Presidential-Elect

On 19 January, the challenge was dismissed by the Constitutional Court, officially making Tshisekedi president-elect. He was officially sworn in as President on January 24, 2019. South Africa on 20 January congratulated Felix Tshisekedi on becoming president of DR Congo.

Despite the African Union and EUROPA warning of doubts over the result announced by the Constitutional Court. After Tshisekedi was sworn in, it was reported that a member of Kabila’s coalition would be picked to serve as his Prime Minister.

Conclusion

In conclusion, in the months prior to the vote, opposition parties in DR Congo, including the UDPS had said that they would pick a joint candidate. Especially for the presidential election to increase their chances of defeating the governing party.

But after the opposition parties made the decision to pick Martin Fayulu as the unity candidate, Mr. Tshisekedi backed out and decided to run independently.

Above all, in November, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi and six other opposition leaders backed Martin Fayulu to take on Kabila’s handpicked successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. Although Mr. Tshisekedi argued he was simply following the wishes of the party base.

Many political followers in Congo and beyond criticized his decision not to support Mr. Fayulu. This factor contributed to Félix owing to run as an independent candidate where he has won the concluded elections.

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